The Many Benefits of a Daily Grapefruit

by Poppy Carpenter

Eating the flesh of a grapefruit has more health benefits than drinking the juice.

Grapefruit is a hybrid of two vitamin-packed fruits, the pomelo and the orange. Both of these fruits have a multitude of health benefits, including fiber, vitamins and liminoids. Grapefruits are available year-round and, when ripe, should be heavy for their size. Skin discoloration or scratches do not affect the taste of the fruit, but bruised fruit should be avoided. Store grapefruit at room temperature if you plan to eat it within a few days; otherwise, refrigerate it for two to three weeks.

Weight Loss

Grapefruit provides the feeling of being full due to its fiber content, about 2.5 grams in 1 cup. It is also low in calories, with just 74 calories in a cup, making it the ideal candidate for weight watchers and health enthusiasts. Grapefruit is low in sodium, allowing it to help flush out extra water weight incurred by eating foods with high sodium levels. This citrus fruit is also a good source of potassium, giving you an energy burst by relieving the waste build-up within the body.

Vitamin C

Grapefruit contains 77 milligrams of vitamin C in one fruit, more than 70 percent of your daily recommended value. Vitamin C boosts the immune system and fights the inflammatory assault by free radicals, helping to prevent common cold symptoms and reducing the severity of health conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This vitamin also benefits cardiovascular health by reducing plaque build-up, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Phytonutrients

Grapefruit contains citrus limonoids that help prevent cancerous cells from spreading rapidly and excessively. Limonoids have been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon. Eating at least one grapefruit each day or drinking an 8-ounce glass of juice promotes a lower risk of getting cancer and prohibits the growth of cancer cells. Another phytonutrient contained in pink and red grapefruit is lycopene, which reduces tumor activity and helps colon health.

Everyday Ways to Eat Grapefruit

Replace your glass of orange juice at breakfast with grapefruit juice. Grapefruit grows in warmer climates and is best eaten at room temperature by peeling the skin and dividing the sections of the flesh in the natural jacket. Mix spinach leaves, red grapefruit segments, shrimp and thinly sliced red onion, and top with a dijon mustard vinaigrette. Broiled grapefruit is a simple dessert that is sweet and sour. Give grapefruit halves' a light coating of cinnamon and sugar, then place under the broiler until caramelized. Serve with a spoonful of low-fat plain yogurt for a healthy and delicious breakfast or brunch.

What's your dietary preference?

Gluten Free

Omnivore

Paleo

Vegetarian

Vegan

Which of these foods do you like to eat?

Fruit

Legumes

Meat & Poultry

Fish

Nuts & Seeds

Vegetables

Healthy fats

What kinds of foods would you like to incorporate more in your diet?

Healthy fats

Vegetables

Meat, Poultry & Fish

Grains

Fruits

Which of these fats do you like?

Olive oil

Avocados

Salmon

Olives

Sesame oil

Almonds

Which of these vegetables do you like?

Broccoli

Kale

Carrots

Peppers

Sweet potatoes

Which of these proteins do you like?

Beef

Chicken

Tilapia

Turkey

Eggs

Pork

Which of these grains do you like?

Whole wheat

Brown rice

Oatmeal

Cous Cous

Bulgar

Which of these fruits do you like?

Apples

Bananas

Pears

Kiwis

Oranges

Peaches

Pomegranates

Berries

Which of these foods do you like to eat?

Fish

Nuts

Vegetables

Meat & Poultry

Fruits

These are kinds of fish you can eat on a Paleo diet. Which do you like?

Halibut

Red Snapper

Tilapia

Salmon

These are some nuts you can eat on a Paleo diet. Which do you like?

Almonds

Cashews

Pistacios

Walnuts

These are some vegetables you can eat on a Paleo diet. Which do you like?

Broccoli

Peppers

Kale

Carrots

Lettuce

Cabbage

These are some proteins you can eat on a Paleo diet. Which do you like?

About the Author

Poppy Carpenter graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. In addition to teaching journalism to junior high students, she also covers health and fitness for "PUSH Monthly" and Angie's List.

Photo Credits

Have Feedback?

Thank you for providing feedback to our Editorial staff on this article. Please fill in the following information so we can alert the Healthy Eating editorial team about a factual or typographical error in this story. All Fields are required.